India Tour 2012 - Day Seven and Eight Wildlife

December 02, 2012 at 8:49 AM

India Photo Tour Day Seven and Eight

November 25 & 26, 2012

Ranthambhore and Bird Sanctuary

I’m sure you have noticed a few days without posting again ... our last few locations have not been very good for internet connections so I’m now posting all our updates from the balance of the tour. We are now home safe after an incredible 14 day photo trek to India.

Today was a full day of Safari’s at Ranthambhore National Park, we divided the photographers into three groups for traveling through the park. One of our groups of photographers were lucky enough to see a tiger today who was on the hunt.

After our morning safari some of the group stayed in the jungle and had breakfast at the old hunting lodge then hiked up to Ranthambhore Fort and the Ganesh Temple located up on the mountain ridge. Pilgrims heading to the temple, monkeys, architecture from 900 AD to 1600’s and an amazing view of the jungle were the reward for the hike.

The following morning we departed for Keoladeo National Park which is home to the Ghana Bird Sanctuary. We rode through the park on rickshaws in the afternoon and were treated to a beautiful sunset and rising of the full moon.

We have one evening at the park and in the morning depart for Agra, were we will be visiting the Taj Mahl at sunset, under the full moon and then the following morning for sunrise.

Enjoy the images of our two days of our journey in the National Parks.

Patti and Darinka staying warm and protecting themselves from the dust as we entered the park. Mornings are cool on the edge of the desert.

Black Stork looking for food

A second Black Stork

Getting ready to fly

Black Stork in flight

Hubbles at work ...

The canters that took us into the jungle, each canter had a driver and naturalist.

A red tip singing his morning call

A Tiger Bird

Monkey watching from a safe distance

Proud parents showing off their baby

So cute ....

On the run ...

Breakfast at the hunting lodge after our morning safari ..

Hiking to the fort

Pilgrims trying to keep an aggressive monkey away from the food they carry to the temple

Another baby monkey

The monkeys were everywhere as we hike up to the fort

Panorama of the National Park from the fort look out

Panorama of one of the man made pools once we reached the top

The ruins of the senate building inside the fort

Pilgrim ladies bath prior to visiting the temple

Another view of the bathing lake near the temple

Sidney paying our admission fee ...

Oh and more monkeys ...

I’m ready for my close-up

The monkeys love to eat the marigold flowers from the necklaces that are placed at the temple

Pilgrims at the market close to the temple

At the market

Beautiful faces ...

Mom ... can I have some too!!!!

No photos please!!!

This is how the supplies for the merchant stalls in the market get up the mountain

A mongoose on our afternoon safari

India duck

A crocodile near the edge of the lake ...

A hunting post within the park ... India royalty once hunted here

Another view of the hunting observation post

Ring neck parrots

The wetlands ... so much activity as it is just post monsoon season here

Catching a ride as the sambre deer wades through the marsh

The birds often fish from the back of the deer

Almost like an aircraft carrier for birds ....

Fisher soaking up the evening sun

Spotted owl

Another Fisher

Two baby spotted owls

A purple heron

View of the hunting lodge from the other side of the lake

Tiger birds are quite friendly, image by Rob Paterson

A great place to watch everyone ... image by Rob Paterson

Time to leave ... image by Sidney Siu

Sloth Bear ... image by Tom Hopkins

Sloth Bear running, it is rare to see these bears in the open ... image by Tom Hopkins

Tiger on the hunt ... this was as she chased her prey ... image by Dan Fraser

Heron reflection ... image by Tom Hopkins

The gentleman on the left is Mr Singh he met with the group to tell his story of being attacked by the tiger and nearly killed only 18 months ago. It was great for him to be able to join the group and tell his story. Image by Sidney Siu.

Evening trip into the Bird Sanctuary by rickshaw.

Nanciellen and Marcy as we entered the park

A beautiful ride deep into the wetlands

There is much activity as the evening approaches

Painted storks start flying about

As the sky turns to a golden colour more painted storks take flight

The evening sky becomes full of birds in flight

A green heron by the shore

Again royalty hunted here years ago ... look at the amount of kills in one day. This is all now protected land.

Another painted stork

Coming in for landing

Notice the heron at the top of the tree at sunset

Now look to the east and a beautiful rising moon

Another shot of the moon rising

Painted Stork with the moon behind him

It was a beautiful evening

Tom and Bill returning to our motor coach via rickshaw as the sun sets behind them

It was two great days of wildlife photography and a great experience to visit these two beautiful national parks. We hope you have enjoyed the images. We depart in the morning for Agra for our last two days of our journey.